Mum battling psoriasis since school who faced staring and severe post-pregnancy flare up finds ‘life changing’ cure

A 32-year-old mum who has had severe psoriasis since the age of 15, to the point where “75% of (her) skin was covered” in itchy red clusters with “most people” staring at her skin in public and asking questions like “what’s that in your hair?” has now found a “life-changing” miracle cure and has learned to love her skin.

Helena Farndale, 32, a medical secretary who lives in Middlesbrough with her fiance, Jack, 33, and their two children, Ruben, five, and Orla, two, first got psoriasis – a skin condition that causes flaky patches of skin which form scales – while in secondary school.

Helena was “mocked for being dirty and unclean” because of having dry flakes of skin “all over (her) school uniform”, which made her self-esteem worse.

Her GP reassured her that it could be down to exam stress, but her psoriasis flare-ups continued into her late teens and early 20s – when she began clubbing, she had to cover up, making her feel “like the odd one out”.

Around a year later, she even tried phototherapy – a form of treatment that uses ultraviolet light to treat skin conditions – and bath PUVA (Psoralen and UVA Light) treatment, but she saw no long-term improvement and her psoriasis spread to her shoulders, fingers, back, legs and stomach.

When she gave birth to her first child in 2018, it got even worse and the postpartum emotions, hormones and psoriasis “was too much for (her) to handle” and made her confidence hit rock bottom.

However, upon reflection she realised it was “important” for her children to see her skin condition as “part of” her, and to learn to not worry about what others think.

Helena was still experimenting with different products to try to keep her psoriasis at bay, and in January 2024 she was overjoyed to discover Oregon Skincare, which cleared up her skin in a matter of days, and she now feels more confident than ever.

Helena told PA Real Life: “My doctor said I might have gotten psoriasis because of exam stress, but it didn’t get any better after I finished school.

“It was really bad when I was at the age of going out and drinking with my friends and going out to nightclubs and stuff – I used to be cautious of what I was wearing.

“I wouldn’t wear anything with a low back and I had to wear long sleeves and trousers.

“I just felt like the odd one out and couldn’t dress fashionably.”

When Helena was 15, she developed psoriasis despite no one else in her family having the skin condition.

She said: “My scalp was very flaky and dry, especially in the back of my hairline – it felt like dandruff and people at school would say ‘What’s that in your hair?’

“I was mocked for being dirty and unclean as I had dry flakes of skin in my hair and all over my school uniform.

“It was a bit embarrassing, I was getting down about it and I was checking it all the time and it made my self-esteem worse and I wasn’t very confident.”

A few months later, after her skin condition did not improve, Helena visited her GP and was prescribed creams and ointments, but nothing seemed to work.

She was eventually referred to a dermatologist the following year for phototherapy and bath PUVA (Psoralen and UVA Light) treatment.

“It helped gradually but I always got flare-ups around 10 to 18 months later,” Helena explained.

“These treatments were also really time consuming.

“I had to go to two appointments a week during the course of the treatments.

“I also tried Methotrexate but I had quite a few side effects and decided to stop taking it with the dermatologist’s consent.”

Around two years later, the psoriasis spread from Helena’s scalp to her shoulders, back, fingers and then onto her stomach.

“There were clusters all over my body – they were raised with a really red undertone and they were so sore and itchy,” Helena said.

“It impacted my confidence massively.”

Helena’s psoriasis became worse over time, and the harsh comments did not stop.

She explained: “Even as an adult I’ve had people ask what is wrong with my skin and most people stare so much, they don’t realise how self-conscious it makes someone feel.

“The stress of feeling people staring can make the psoriasis flares even worse.”

She had her worst flare-up after giving birth to her eldest, Ruben, in 2018.

“I think about 75% of my skin was covered in psoriasis after I had him,” Helena said.

“The mix of postpartum emotions, hormones and psoriasis was too much for me to handle.

“During my pregnancy, my psoriasis almost disappeared, and I think in my head I thought I’d been cured but then after I gave birth it came back with a vengeance.

“I already felt funny and not myself, after just having a baby, and it just made my confidence worse.”

However, after having her children, she realised that it was important for them to understand her skin condition and not judge anyone based on their looks.

She explained: “Before having my son, I felt I had to hide away from everyone – my skin looked so awful.

“But after having him I decided that it was important for him to see that my psoriasis was part of me.

“I wanted him to know what psoriasis was and to learn not to worry what other people think about it.

“It’s helped me learn to embrace my skin and love it for what it is.”

Helena was still determined to find a product that could keep her psoriasis at bay though.

While researching online, she came across Oregon Skincare, and in January 2024, decided to give it a go – she soon ordered their serum, moisturiser, shampoo and conditioner.

After using the products for just five days, her skin began to clear up.

“The improvements I saw in my psoriasis with the Oregon products were faster and more drastic than any medicated product I had been prescribed,” she said.